A new tradition may have been born in Tewksbury this week with the debut of the Tewskbury Spelling Bee, sponsored by the Tewksbury Education Foundation.The finals were held June 9 and 10 in McGrath Auditorium at Tewksbury High School.The 4th Grade Final featured 10 young spellers from the Trahan School and 11 more from the North Street School. With the championship on the line, Alek Cranston outdueled Dyland Crowley by correctly spelling weird and manufacture.The 6th Grade Championship was won by Rhiannon Leslie, who topped 17 rivals.The 8th Grade Championship was won by Scott Mazzapica, who beat out 13 other spellers.

The Moderator for the event was Jayne Miller, editor or the Town Crier.

Judges for the 6th Grade final were Town Moderator Richard Montuori was Fire Chief Michael Hazel. Judges for the 8th Grade final were Mary Eldringoff and Kristen Vogel. Judges for the 4th Grade final were Tewksbury Children's Librarian Noelle Boc and Police Chief Timothy Sheehan.

All participants received a certificate and a metal. First Place Winners receive another certificate and metal along with a movie (Akeelah and the Bee) and $100.00 gift card from TD Bank

Louise Davy Trahan School Finalists

Shamus Covel

Alek Cranston

Kayla Mirisola

Emily Mitchell

Grace Nashawaty

Felix Navarrete

Elyse O’Leary

Ryan Rivers

Andrew Sockey

Jacqueline Vitiello

North Street School Finalists

Justin Bishop

Colleen Crail

Dylan Crowley

Angelina Georgacopoulos

Emma Hiltz

Eric Impink

Anthony Puccia

Katrina Realejo

Isabella Schille

Kendall VonKahle

Mia Zani

John F Ryan Elementary School Finalists

Tom Barbati

Colby Brown

Kevin Carey

Alexia Chesbrough

McKenzie Clark

Dominic Cohen

Sydney Crowley

Sydney Demasi

Sophie Eskenas

Brendan Flynn

Jake Forgione

Emily Hankins

Rhiannon Leslie

Jessica Lisiecki

Diego Monteiro

Jack O’Neill

Katelyn Quinn-Cyr

Zachary Spiegel

John W Wynn Middle School finalists.

Erin Briley

Madison Bugley

Jack Callinan

Lauren Crupi

Aaron Kennen

Alana Lehouillier

Christian MacMillan

Scott Mazzapica

George Matovu

Samantha Schultz

Lindsay Smith

Cole Wescott

Tyler Willis

Tyler Wilson

The final two contestants, Alek Cranston and Dylan Crowley, battle it out for the title of Best 4th grade speller in Tewksbury.

The final two contestants, Alek Cranston and Dylan Crowley, battle it out for the title of Best 4th grade speller in Tewksbury.